Clark Rubber opens new National Support Office in Hawthorn
It has been an incredibly fast-moving couple of years for Aussie retail icon Clark Rubber, since CRG Operations assumed control of the brand in mid-2020.
This new ownership, headed by Edward Plowman, Graeme Goldman and John Weste brought to the business an ambitious plan.
The plan involves doubling the Large Format Retail store network, investing into new franchising models, expanding the National Support Office team, and transforming the customer experience under the stewardship of CEO Anthony Grice.
The clear goal is to cement Clark Rubber as the one-stop destination across the pools, foam and rubber categories.
A critical aspect of the new strategy was to relocate the National Support Office (NSO) to a high-tech, contemporary location after many years headquartered in Bayswater VIC.
“Our iconic business is on an evolutionary pathway, and our NSO is central to this,” explains Anthony.
“We needed a new home in a more central location.
“We needed a space that would give our expanded NSO team a high-quality facility with the latest technology.
“We believe that it was important to find that somewhere that promoted collaboration, fitted our strategy, and allowed us to drive even better outcomes for our Franchise Partners.”
After an exhaustive search, the Executive team settled on a modern building in the heart of the Glenferrie precinct in Hawthorn Vic.
“It suited us perfectly,” confirms Anthony.
“A blank canvas we could tailor to our specific requirements, in a thriving part of Melbourne that presented our team with a very attractive working environment.”
The team then set about with the build, making numerous improvements to the internal layout and technology/IT.
The bespoke layout includes a variety of meeting and breakout spaces, executive offices, and an impressive café/kitchen space which Anthony says has proven to be a very popular social environment.
Following a migration to the new location, Clark Rubber celebrated the new space with an official opening event attended by the NSO team, key partners, internal National Franchise Advisory Council members, and a very prominent guest – the then local MP and Federal Treasurer The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP.
“To have Josh attend and speak on the eve of the Federal Election was a real privilege,” says Anthony.
“We are thrilled to have joined the Hawthorn business community, and having Josh mark the occasion with us and cut the ribbon was fantastic.”
Now into its 76th year of operation, Clark Rubber is fast setting up for its next chapter.
The team is understandably proud of its new National Support Office, which will serve as the true hub of the business and an embodiment of its core values for years to come.
